But if youre looking for a way to add some variety to your horses diet, fruits and vegetables are a great option. All Rights Reserved. Your subscription could not be saved. Another note: Free access to lemon trees could be problematic because the branches have thorns. Red maples grow throughout the eastern United States and Canada. The twigs are reddish-brown. Mostly, horses leave fig leaves alone. You might not have thought about feeding apricots to your horse but theyll absolutely love them, Ive only ever had one horse that didnt like them but he was such a fussy eater anyway. Grapes can be a hit or miss when it comes to horses. Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center, Spring Plants that are Poisonous to Horses, Dogs and Barn Cats. What I do is cut the cantaloupe in half, remove the seeds and then slice the flesh into cubes. They can help to fight inflammation, improve your horses blood sugar and insulin response as well as aid his digestion. Horses can eat figs. If youre thinking about learning to ride or want to try a new discipline then it can be difficult to know whats right for you which is why I decided to write this article. Learn why you should not feed your dog passion fruit. Avocado Sorry, but this superfruit is totally off the menu for your horse. The answer to those who have been wondering whether or not horses can consume cucumbers is yes. This should be a relief to those of you who have an abundance of cucumbers blooming in your gardens. Tree bark and leaves: The bark and leaves of the pomegranate tree are high in tannins. When introducing watermelon, some horses will have difficulty learning how to bite through the rind. Because horses are herbivores, this list of safe and unsafe foods will focus mostly on fruits and vegetables. The bottom line If you're. Personally I hardly ever feed my horses apples but do feed them a lot of pears instead, my personal favorite is to blend them up and then mix them with their feed. Red maple leaves can cause problems if baled into hay. Eating a passion fruit can be pretty straight-forward. Other people love the bit of sour). I have a B.S. The pit should not be consumed. The problem is that their seeds, like apple seeds and cherry pits, do contain cyanide. Like most toxic plants, horses will avoid milkweed unless they have no other food source. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Ive also put together a few shopping lists of essential items that Ive found helpful over the years. In addition, they present a significant risk of choking if consumed entirely. Before feeding nectarines though make sure you remove the large stone in the center, not only is it a choking hazard but it also contains cyanide which could, in large amounts cause respiratory failure. Describe the issue, and any symptoms youve noticed that may be associated with it. It makes a really nice fresh treat! The problem is that their seeds, like apple seeds and cherry pits, do contain cyanide The other issue is that even healthy fruits, when eaten in excess, can lead to diarrhea due to excess sugar and fiber levels." Guess what, my mare LOVED them! The number of treats given to them should be minimal, and the treats themselves should be similar to what they are already accustomed to consuming. The wilted and fallen leaves can be toxic to horses. Ice cream cones (sugar cones and cake cones) Horses will never say no to treats, so it is your responsibility to know what is enough and how much is too much. Most horses should be able to handle a handful of grapes, a single pear, or a couple of slices of watermelon without any problems. Horses can acquire a taste for all of the fruits on your property, none of which themselves pose a problem if eaten in small quantities, except maybe avocados. Too much consumption of this dried fruit can result in discomfort that may lead to digestive problems. https://ker.com/equinews/feeding-treats-horses/, https://equine-world.co.uk/info/horse-care/feeding-horses/feeding-horses-fruits-and-vegetables, https://equestrianco.com/blogs/latest/can-horses-eat-bananas-pears-apples-and-other-fruits, https://www.primestables.co.uk/blog/what-can-horses-eat-the-top-20-foods-you-didnt-know-horses-could-eat/, https://equinewellnessmagazine.com/fruits-veggies/, https://www.thesprucepets.com/feeding-watermelon-to-your-horse-1886490, https://horseislove.com/can-horses-eat-strawberries/, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/apricots-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_11, https://www.thebarkspace.com/can-horses-eat-cantaloupe/, https://horseislove.com/can-horses-eat-grapes/, https://horseislove.com/can-horses-eat-oranges/, https://horseislove.com/can-horses-eat-peaches/, https://horseislove.com/can-horses-eat-pears/, How to Prevent and Control Duck Mites and Lice, How to Train Turkeys to Come When Called (9 Tips), https://myhorsenames.com/can-horses-eat-pineapple/. Strawberries are beneficial to a horses health. Zucchini is another one you may not have thought of. Thanks to this preparation, your horse will be able to enjoy eating the pumpkin without having to worry about choking on it. Can horses eat grapes? Apples Can horses eat apples? Molasses. It helps block the increase of stomach acid, and lessen the production of stomach sores. With fruit trees, you have to be concerned about the horse eating not only the fruit but also the pits, leaves and bark. Apples are the fruit most commonly given to a horse as a treat. They can be fed fresh or if the weathers hot you can freeze the flesh and feed them to your horse like that. The toxins destroy the red blood cells. Other symptoms of pigweed ingestion may include: The bark of red maples is smooth and grayish. Horses will eat the leaves if there is no other food available. These common weeds, trees, plants, and shrubs, shown below, are toxic to horses and ponies. You must keep them up and walking. Many horse owners and riders who engage in equestrian sports will feed their horses bananas with the peels still attached between rounds. I've personally worked with hundreds of horses, founded an run a successful 501(c)3 and even run a program promoting adoption of wild burros in cooperation with the US Government. One thing to be cautious of is that most of the time you shouldnt feed your carved pumpkins. Most horses enjoy the cool fresh taste. Yes Veterinarian Dr. Kara explains, "Passion fruit is not toxic for dogs and can be fed to them in small amounts. Cut large produce into smaller pieces. Can horses eat apricots? Raisins are nice, little treats for your horse. All of these fruits are safe for horses. Should he be allowed access to the trees? Unless there is no other feed available, it is unlikely a horse will eat this plant. Tannins can cause a sticky mass in horses stomachs and, if left untreated, can lead to ulcers and, in extreme circumstances, even ruptures in the stomach. A member of the prunus Persia family peaches, like nectarines, make a healthy treat for horses. Okay, that may be going a bit far, but seriously theyre super good for horses, especially those with digestive issues such as ulcers. Bananas are delicious and healthy snacks that are packed with potassium. I mean it makes sense, they kinda look like an apple but arent. It also aids in cardiovascular recovery, and the antioxidant properties help lessen oxidative stress. Horses can eat much of the same fruits and vegetables that we do, such as apples, carrots, lettuce, watermelon, bananas, and cabbage. Deadly nightshade can thrive even in dry conditions. When giving a baby food in rapidly increasing amounts, you run the risk of causing colic, but you also need to be aware of their allergies. It is also important to cut large fruits into smaller pieces before feeding to your horse. When it comes to horses, the peel is frequently the most delicious portion! Just like other berries, strawberries are great for horses to eat, theyre low in sugar and calories too. However, some fruits are not safe for your horse to eat, and some are mentioned below. Apple cores should be thrown away. Theyre especially good in the summer for helping to cool your horse down. The toxin in this plant inactivates thiamin (vitamin B1) in the horse's gastrointestinal tract. With the free weekly EQUUS newsletter, youll get the latest horse health information delivered right to your in basket! Oatmeal (rolled oats, steel cut oats, Irish oats, quick oats) Honey. I wanted to help other people by passing on some of the things Id learned. Horses have a rather complicated digestion system which has bacteria and microbial of its own. Not only will your horse love a handful of strawberries, but they can also be beneficial to your horse's health. Cherries can be fed to your horse at any time but doing so after exercise can really aid their recovery, especially if theyve been working hard. They can also eat apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cantaloupes, dates, grapefruits, seedless grapes, mangoes, guavas, peaches, oranges, pears, plums, pineapples, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, squashes, tangerines, bananas with the peels and watermelons with the pulp and the rind. You can also cook them, mash them or make sweet potato fries! The most important rule about giving your horse fruits is to make sure you wash the fruit thoroughly to remove any chemicals, bacteria, or pesticides. Seeds: Separating the seeds in the pomegranate from the pulp is difficult unless it is squeezed for juice, and horses will usually not bother. Yes! Apples are full of vitamins and minerals that can have a range of benefits such as reducing the risk of obesity and heart problems. Therefore, including peas in your horses diet as part of a healthy and varied diet can be pretty beneficial. If I happen to cut open a honeydew that is too green or not very sweet, Ill donate it to my horses treat bucket. Grated apples and carrots Peppermint and most hard candies (NOT chocolate) University of Minnesota Extension, 2020, Toxic Plants of Kansas. Dried citrus pulp (the leftover material from juice production) is a common ingredient in livestock feed and can be used in horse feed in limited quantity. Please do your research before feeding a horse anything that isnt on this list. Your goal is to remove pesticides and dirt from the produce. You can cube it too. It is crucial to select the appropriate fruits, vegetables, and snacks and to consume them in moderation. Do weather conditions affect the risk of colic. Keep in mind, too, that the horse may beat you to the harvest and leave slim pickings for the family. Pineapple. Salt Oranges are one of many natural foods that are safe to feed horses as a treat. When they are in season they can be great to take to the barn for you and your horse to snack on. Lastly, cut the flesh into smaller pieces. Leaves from plums, cherries, peaches, and several other fruits are also toxic to horses. The other day I was talking to a friend about different western disciplines when she asked me what team penning was. If you plan on feeding your horse pumpkin, you should always check it for any symptoms of rot or mildew before doing so because these things can be toxic to horses. Colic is a concern when introducing larger quantities quickly but you also have to take into account allergies. Next time you are drinking orange juice at the barn, consider offering your horse a sip and see what she thinks! Image Credit: AD1981, Pixabay. Who knows, maybe that will encourage them to try it too! Strawberries are an awesome sweet treat that most horses quickly learn to love. However, none of these compounds are believed to harm horses. Depending on the tree, each part may present a separate danger. I dont know why I never thought of it before! However, some natural treats you should avoid feeding your horse; include onions, broccoli, potatoes, leeks, rhubarb, avocados, and tomatoes. Any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase. This is one of the reasons why we feed them fruits instead, but it can be difficult to know which fruits are safe and which arent which is why I thought Id put this guide together. Fruit: The fruit of the avocado contains a compound called persin that is dangerous to livestock (although harmless to people). Mangoes make an excellent treat for horses.
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